How Inclusive is Accessibility?

According to the CDC, 1 in 4 American adults reported having a disability in 2022. Even with these statistics, knowledge about those who do not fit the standard ideals of health is lacking, both in the medical world and in people’s daily lives. The CDC defines accessibility as “when the needs of people with disabilities are specifically considered, and products, services, and facilities are built or modified so that they can be used by people of all abilities.” This in practice includes more obvious examples like wheelchair ramps and subtitles on videos, but also more subtle additions that you may not have considered like automatic doors and flexible working hours.

Lots of people may see the terms ‘disability’ or ‘accessibility’ and think that they don’t apply to them because they’re young and healthy. But by distancing themselves from these topics, they further their ignorance and potentially endanger themselves and others. Disability covers both short-term issues like injuries and longer-term issues like chronic illnesses. Most individuals will need to use accessibility services at least once in their lifetimes, so understanding them is important for everybody’s well-being.

Most people don’t oppose the idea of accessibility, but still participate in the discrimination of those who are different from them, like those who buy into eugenics, which is the strongly bigoted belief that society can be ‘improved’ through selective breeding to eradicate those with ‘undesirable’ traits like darker skin tones or cognitive disabilities. Despite the ineffective and dangerous nature of these practices, there are still modern-day attempts to manually prevent certain demographics, communities of color, or members of the LGBTQ+ community, from reproducing because of outdated, incorrect beliefs from decades ago. 

In more subtle cases, discrimination against disabled individuals, or ableism, can appear in the form of bullying, ostracization, or repeated derogatory remarks. Something seemingly harmless to someone else can make others who overhear deeply uncomfortable. 

Recognizing these behaviors is the first step in stopping them and creating a safer, kinder world for those who rely on accessibility services to live and thrive.